Understanding the Science of Health

By Sara Scheller, BSN, RN, CCRN, NBC-HWC

Integrative Nurse Health Coach

All natural. Organic. Cage free. Grass fed. Free range. Pure. Real ingredients. What does it all mean? For many people it can mean confusion. How can you make good choices on food products, bath and body products, and other things you may put on or in your body? How can you be sure that if you value your health, you are making the best choices to care for your body and mind? The key is to become an educated, empowered consumer.

The truth is that globally, health & wellness is a trillion dollar industry. Marketing and advertising agencies have found ways to trick us with fancy labels and clever taglines. How do you know if the choices you are making are scientifically the best or healthiest? How do you know what to believe, or even where to start with making healthy choices? A great place I can recommend to visit to educate yourself is the The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) website, a branch of the National Institute of Health (NIH). This webpage, “Know the Science” is a beginner’s resource to helping you understand health research so you can make the best decisions regarding your health. It includes interactive modules, videos and articles about clinical research, complementary and integrative health, and understanding medical words. The main website also serves as a great resource for health information from A to Z, and includes tips on how to find a complementary health practitioner with proper licensing, education and credentialing.

Another great resource to visit is the Environmental Working Group website. The Environmental Working Group is a, “non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.” Their mission is to “empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.” The website includes research and education around key issues including consumer products, cosmetics, energy, farming, food, water, toxins, the Midwest and children’s health. If you are visiting this website for the first time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or even feel paralyzed with the wealth of information you can find here. When you partner up with a complementary practitioner, they can help you make sense of all of this information and serve as a guide to help you optimize your health and well-being.

As a health coach, I find a person may know what to do or the best thing to do, but they are not actually doing it. Or, someone may hear from a healthcare provider, family member, or even their own inner voice that they need to make a change but ultimately it is up to the individual to do it. A health coach can help you to find ways to make small changes and reduce your overwhelm. What we often find is when we can build confidence around making small changes it begins to create momentum to even greater possibilities of health and well-being. A health coach can serve as an accountability partner so that you can take action on making choices that are aligned with your values and strengths so you can lead your best life. Click here to learn more about health coaching or call 732-994-7855 to make an appointment with someone on our team.

Click here for more information about Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine or call 732-263-7999.

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